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[Act III

Bertha

Listen to you! She is the person for listening. Why would you waste your time with me? Talk to her.

Richard

[Nods his head.] I see. You have driven her away from me now, as you drove everyone else from my side—every friend I ever had, every human being that ever tried to approach me. You hate her.

Bertha

[Warmly.] No such thing! I think you have made her unhappy as you have made me and as you made your dead mother unhappy and killed her. Woman-killer! That is your name.

Richard

[Turns to go.] Arrivederci!

Bertha

[Excitedly.] She is a fine and high character. I like her. She is everything that I am not—in birth and education. You tried to ruin her but you could not. Because she is well able for you—what I am not. And you know it.

Richard

[Almost shouting.] What the devil are you talking about her for?

Bertha

[Clasping her hands.] O, how I wish I had never met you! How I curse that day!

Richard

[Bitterly.] I am in the way, is it? You would like to be free now. You have only to say the word.